Valley Heartbeat! by Kristi Dobson

September 27, 2016
Students at E.J. Dunn Elementary School who choose to are spending more and more time in the school’s cooking classroom. They are learning how to preserve and prepare some traditional First Nations foods, and throughout the year, serve it at various events. It is part of the continual increase of...
September 23, 2016
A couple who have been working closely together as a pastor and wife team overseas are building the foundation for a new church in Port Alberni. Currently growing a membership with an evening gathering at their home, Nori and Shelley Anderson have goals for the future and are following the...
September 20, 2016
Kristy Krishan has a passion for helping others and has recently combined that with the launch of her own business. She is motivated to bring confidence to women and men through her certification as a medical laser technician and has found that being self-employed fits with her way of life. Kristy...
September 16, 2016
If there is one thing the Alberni Valley Lions Club knows how to do is commit to giving back to the community. That is the main reason Lion Rob Dalton has been a long-time member and remains passionate about the causes supported by the Club. Born and raised in Port Alberni, Dalton spent some time...
September 13, 2016
Gidget McLeod leads an active life as a volunteer and has been motivated for many years to give back to the community. Volunteering is something that adds to her social life and provides a sense of accomplishment. Gidget’s current commitment is as a member of the Port Alberni Toy Run and it will...
September 9, 2016
Like many long-time volunteers of the Fall Fair, it is a family affair for Beth Fossen. She started helping out on the fair grounds in 1987 and hasn’t looked back since. Over that time, Beth has worked in the Kinette food booth, built sheep pens and was the parade marshall for ten years. Now she is...
September 6, 2016
Carol Cutforth knows the Alberni District Fall Fair well, and she should, she has been volunteering there since 1982. For Carol, a member of the Board of Directors, the fair is a year-round commitment. Carol’s family moved to Port Alberni in 1981, and her father, Willy Smith, joined the Kiwanis...
September 2, 2016
Rita McKinnon has been a long time volunteer with the Salmon Festival. It is people like Rita, who’s dedication help the event run smoothly, especially when finances are involved. Between prize money, entry fees and expenses, Rita has had everything under control as treasurer for the past thirty-...
August 30, 2016
For the 45th year, the Port Alberni Salmon Festival at Clutesi Haven Marina will be the place to be over the long weekend. Consistently run by volunteers since its inception, Dale Sanderson will be on-site putting in his many loyal hours during the three-day event. For Dale, it all started in the...
August 26, 2016
Pat and Derek McGregor are longtime Port Alberni residents who have just celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. The two eloped when they were in there twenties and they said it isn’t a big secret to enjoying the success of a long marriage. Derek, well-known in the auto industry as a business...
August 23, 2016
Sproat Lake, with its vast amount of favourite swim holes and camping spots, is 25 kilometres in length with 300 kilometres of shoreline. Its beauty is enjoyed today by Valley residents and lakefront homeowners but is also has a mysterious past, complete with myths and legends.  Named after...
August 19, 2016
What started out as a dream three years ago quickly became a successful reality. Cheryl Iwanowsky’s vision to transform an old, shabby house into a stunny art gallery came to fruition when she followed her heart and believed in what she was doing. Today, she continues to provide customers with a...
August 16, 2016
After being bothered by a noticeable scar on her leg for years, Angela Davies decided to look into ways of minimizing its appearance and it led to a new career path. She now helps other men and women with cosmetic tattooing and will soon be certified to complete paramedical tattooing, which is...
August 12, 2016
Two of the three summer students were down at the Maritime Discover Centre today preparing for Monday’s upcoming Tugboat Day. Both Emma Vanderlee and Jenn Preedy have taken on the summer job for the first time this year, along with recent high school graduate MacKendrick Hallworth. They are all...
August 9, 2016
Susan Fox, administrator of the Kiwanis Hilton Children Centre has been working towards her Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management degree at Royal Roads. With only six months until completion, she hopes to share her knowledge of entrepreneurship for the greater good, on both a global...
August 5, 2016
When Tim Pley stepped into his new position as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Port Alberni in July, he was ready for a change and a challenge. He believes he has received both and is looking forward to working in collaboration with the City Councillors and staff. As Port Alberni’s...
August 3, 2016
Staff at the Alberni Aquarium and Stewardship Centre are helping to make the local environment clean and sustainable and are out to share that enthusiasm with the public. The recently open Centre has been experiencing a busy summer season and there are still a lot of activities to take in down by...
July 29, 2016
Kids in the Valley have been enjoying outdoor fun all summer and there is still a lot more to take in at the local parks. The staff at Parks and Rec have been providing families with activities and a chance to learn something new while on summer vacation and this year the parks program has expanded...
July 26, 2016
Although Michelle Aston and her staff at EM Salon already practice environmentally-friendly ways, they are about to contribute more to sustainable living. As of August 1, the salon will become a Green Circle certified salon. “What this means is that 95 per cent of our waste will be taken away and...
July 22, 2016
A collaboration of forestry workers and environmentalists took to the streets today in an effort to fight back against provincial raw log exports. Organized by the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) and the Ancient Forest Alliance, the rally attracted a number of supporters both for the...

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